Swedes in favour of multiple welfare providers

The quality of welfare services and different actor’s suitability to provide such services are questions that recently have caused heated debate in Sweden. On behalf of the Church of Sweden the researchers have investigated the Swedish population’s attitudes to different actors in the welfare sector. The results are part of an ongoing inquiry within the church about future involvement in the welfare sector.

The study comprises questionnaire replies from 3,111 Swede’s between 18 and 80 years old, and was conducted in October 2012. The results, which are presented in the report The Church of Sweden and Welfare – A Study of Attitudes, shows that there is a predominant positive attitude towards alternative or private actors in the welfare sector. In total, 48 per cent think organisations and companies should be allowed to provide welfare services, while only 33 per cent are opposed. Well-educated are more positive than less-educated and the levels are roughly the same for all actors.

‘It is interesting that the numbers are basically the same for the Church of Sweden as for alternative actors in general, 45 per cent for and 33 per cent against. And this positive attitude also includes other religious organisations in society’, says Anders Bäckström, Senior Professor at Uppsala Religion and Society Research Centre, responsible for the study together with researcher Miriam Hollmer.

However, attitudes vary for different welfare services. There is strong support for activities aimed at adults who are not working, i.e. homeless, unemployed, sick-listed, elderly and ill at life’s final stage. However, it is considered important to keep schools free from all types of religious influences.

The study shows a fundamental confidence in the Church of Sweden as a welfare actor. A clear majority trusts the church to run welfare services in a professional way and do not think that churches or non-profit actors are driven for profit. The positive attitude is based on the idea of charity. Thereby, the study supports previous research showing that the Church of Sweden is perceived as a source of cultural identity and causes feelings of belonging, regardless of the respondent’s own religious involvement.

These alternative actors are primarily regarded as complementary to the Swedish model with local councils, county councils and state as actors.

‘But we can establish that as many as 25 per cent as positive to all forms of alternative welfare services’, says Miriam Hollmer.